Rashaan Salaam's Legacy Reignited by Travis Hunter's Heisman Win
After an extraordinary 11-1 season with the Buffs in 1994, running back Rashaan Salaam (Soc ex’96) won CU’s first Heisman Trophy. Salaam, then a junior, was the fourth Division I player to top the 2,000-yard rushing barrier. He also led the nation in scoring.
“It was a special season, especially after the Miracle at Michigan game,” said Dave Plati (Jour’82), who was assistant athletic director for sports information during Salaam’s time at CU.
Thirty years later, cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter (Psych’26) won the Heisman Trophy in December 2024, the university’s second, bringing Salaam’s name back into the spotlight.
“Rashaan hated the attention he was receiving,” said Plati. “He was the consummate team player, and after he won all his awards, most of his comments were directed at saying his success was due to his teammates.”
Salaam died in 2016 at the age of 42.
Photo courtesy Heisman Trophy Trust